“I saw what you did to Paul Yohenstria. Shouldn’t I believe my own eyes?”
“What did I do that was so evil? I destroyed a vampire preying on the human race. My only mistake was in believing he had turned you vampiress. I believed you were about to feed on the child.” He touched her face, his palm warm and comforting, the feel of him lingering even after he lowered his hand. “I deeply regret that I frightened you, but I cannot regret that I destroyed the vampire. That is what I do; that is the reason I continued my existence for so long alone and far from home. For the protection of both our races, human and Carpathian.”
“You say you aren’t a vampire, but I saw the things you can do. You are far more powerful than even he was. He was afraid of you.”
“Do not most criminals fear justice when it finds them?”
“If you are not a vampire, then what are you?”
“I am Carpathian,” he reiterated patiently. “I am of the earth. We have existed from the beginning of time. We are of the soil, the wind, the water, and the sky. Our powers are great, but we have limitations, too. You have not become vampire, a wanton destroyer. You have become like me, like my people. As I told you, only a handful of humans can become as we are. Most die or become deranged and must be destroyed. I tell you this not to alarm you but to help you to understand that I do not mean you harm.”
Alexandria was silent, studying his face. Physically he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He exuded masculinity and power. Yet always that danger lurked beneath the surface, and it was that she was afraid of. Should she believe him? Could she?
The hard line of his mouth softened, his amber eyes warming to molten gold. “Do not worry about it this moment, cara. Get to know me better before you attempt to make such a judgment.” His hand brushed the length of her hair, a touch of his fingertips, no more, yet she felt it in the pit of her stomach, in the nape of her neck, on every inch of her skin. “A truce, Alexandria, for this night with your brother, while you heal and grow stronger.”
She nodded mutely, afraid to trust her voice. She was both repelled by and drawn to Aidan. She felt safe, and yet she knew she was in danger. But for the moment she would try to put aside her fears, her suspicions, and simply enjoy her time with Joshua.
Aidan smiled. It was the first real smile she had seen on his face. It warmed his eyes and stole her breath. There was something very sexy about it that made Alexandria even more afraid. She had never had to fight her own feelings before.
“The door is in front of you,” he said.
She turned her head slightly so that she could keep an eye on him even as she observed the basement door. “Any tricks up your sleeve? A secret password?”
“Turning the knob will do it.”
“How very mundane.” Alexandria reached for the doorknob at the same time he did. His arm curved around her, bringing their bodies close so that she smelled his clean, masculine scent and felt the heat of him right through their clothes. Hastily she dropped her hand. As he opened the door, she could have sworn she heard soft, taunting laughter in her ear. When she turned to glare at him, his face was all innocence.
Alexandria refrained from kicking his shins and with great dignity walked into the brightly lit kitchen, proud of her self-control.
Aidan leaned close as he trailed behind her. “I can read your mind, cara.” His voice was teasing, velvety, sliding over her skin like the touch of his fingers, fanning flames she hadn’t known existed.
“Don’t brag about it, Mr. Savage. What a great name for you, by the way. Savage. It suits you.”
“If you do not call me Aidan, I am going to have some explaining to do to Joshua. That boy is very smart, you know.”
She laughed softly. “And you said you had no imagination. I can’t wait to hear what you come up with.”
Chapter Six
The kitchen was huge, larger than the entire suite of rooms Alexandria had rented for Joshua and herself at the boarding-house. It was beautiful, all windows opening out onto a huge garden. Plants hung everywhere, healthy and green, and the tiled floor was spotless. She turned around in a full circle, trying to take in everything at once. “This is so beautiful.”
“We have a microwave in case you take a notion to cook something, and the garbage disposal works quite well.”
“Very funny. I’ll have you know I cancook.”
“So Joshua assured me—I believe it was when he was devouring Marie’s cookies.”
“So she bakes, too. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stand such a paragon of virtue.” Alexandria made a face. “I suppose she’s the one responsible for cleaning this showplace? What can’t she do?”
“She does not have your smile, cara“ he replied softly.
For one brief moment, time seemed to stand still while she fell into the mesmerizing gold of his eyes, liquid heat pouring over her, into her.
“Alexandria!” Joshua was banging the door open and hurling himself at her, releasing her from Aidan’s spell as he did so. “Alex!”
She caught him to her, hugging him so tightly, she nearly smothered him. Then she was looking him over for any signs of wounds or bruises. She paid close attention to his neck, making certain Aidan had not taken his blood. “You look great, Joshua.” She hesitated, then said, “Thank you for calling Aidan the other night when I was so sick. It was very smart of you.”
He grinned at her, his blue eyes lighting up. “I knew he’d come and he’d know what to do.” His mouth suddenly turned down at the corners. “I think that other man made you sick. Poisoned you.”
Alexandria tried not to look alarmed. “What other man?”
“Thomas Ivan. When you were having dinner with him, I think he made you eat poison,” Joshua said firmly.
Alexandria turned to glare at Aidan’s innocent face. “Thomas Ivan wouldn’t poison anyone.”
“In any case,” Aidan said in his gentle, compelling voice, “he’d be more likely to put the poison in something she drank, not something she ate. Much more efficient and likelier to hide any bitterness.”
“You would likely know,” Alexandria growled at him. “But stop encouraging Joshua to dislike Thomas Ivan. Evidently I’m soon going to be working for him.”
“Henry said Thomas Ivan was known as a rake—whatever than means, other than a garden tool—and that he was probably trying to get something besides your drawings from you,” Joshua informed her candidly.. A vision of Henry’s lifeless body rose up in Alexandria’s memory, and her grief was stark and gripping. Instantly she felt Aidan in her mind, soothing her, his soft, ancient chant providing a calming influence, an anchor allowing her to smile down at Joshua. “Henry sometimes said things that maybe weren’t quite the truth,” she managed. “He was a little colorful.”
“I do not know about that,” Aidan volunteered. “Henry seemed a pretty wise old man. I believe Thomas Ivan isinterested in more than your drawings. He was adamant and aggressive when he demanded to see you. Hardly the demeanor of someone searching only for an employee.”
Joshua was nodding his agreement solemnly, looking at Aidan as if he was the smartest man in the world.
Alexandria did kick Aidan’s shin; she couldn’t stop herself. “Stop being such a pain! I’ll never be able to counteract your influence if you keep this up. Joshua, Aidan is only teasing. He doesn’t really dislike Mr. Ivan, do you, Aidan?” she prompted, admonishing him with her eyes.
There was a small, telling silence as Aidan thought about it. “I would like to help you out, cara, but the truth is, I am of the same opinion as Henry and Joshua. I think Thomas Ivan is up to no good.”